Establishes State Commission on Minority Affairs within Department of State.

A4134

ASSEMBLY, No. 4134

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

222nd LEGISLATURE

�

INTRODUCED FEBRUARY 19, 2026

Sponsored by:

Assemblywoman� CAROL A. MURPHY

District 7 (Burlington)

SYNOPSIS

���� Establishes State Commission on Minority Affairs
within Department of State.

CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT

���� As introduced.

��

An Act
establishing the State Commission on Minority Affairs
and supplementing Title 52 of the Revised Statutes.

����
Be It
Enacted
by the Senate and General Assembly of
the State of New Jersey:

���� 1.��� a.� There is established
in the Department of State the State Commission on Minority Affairs.� The
commission shall consist of the following members:�

���� the Secretary of State or a
designee;

���� the Attorney General or a
designee;

���� the Chief Diversity Officer or
a designee;

���� the Commissioner of the
Department of Labor and Workforce Development or a designee;

���� the Commissioner of the
Department of Education or a designee;

���� two members of the Senate,
each of whom shall be of different political parties, appointed by the
President of the Senate to serve as members for the two-year legislative term
during which they are appointed;

���� two members of the Senate,
each of whom shall be of different political parties, appointed by the Minority
Leader of the Senate to serve as members for the two-year legislative term
during which they are appointed;

���� two members of the General
Assembly, each of whom shall be of different political parties, appointed by
the Speaker of the General Assembly to serve as members for the two-year
legislative term during which they are appointed; and

���� two members of the General
Assembly, each of whom shall be of different political parties, appointed by
the Minority Leader of the General Assembly to serve as members for the
two-year legislative term during which they are appointed; and

���� sixteen members from the
public.

���� The public members shall be
appointed as follows:

���� four public members, no more
than two of whom shall be of the same political party, shall be appointed by
the President of the Senate;

���� four public members, no more
than two of whom shall be of the same political party, shall be appointed by
the Speaker of the General Assembly; and

���� eight public members, no more
than four of whom shall be of the same political party, shall be appointed by
the Governor.

���� The public members shall be
residents of this State, chosen with due regard to race, ethnicity, religion,
and gender while ensuring broad geographic representation.

���� b.��� Each public member of
the commission shall serve for a term of three years, except that of the
initial public members so appointed: one member appointed by the President of
the Senate, one member appointed by the Speaker of the General Assembly, and
two members appointed by the Governor shall serve for a term of one year; one
member appointed by the President of the Senate, one member appointed by the
Speaker of the General Assembly, and three members appointed by the Governor
shall serve for a term of two years; and two members appointed by the President
of the Senate, two members appointed by the Speaker of the General Assembly,
and three members appointed by the Governor shall serve for a term of three
years.� Public members shall be eligible for reappointment.� They shall serve
until their successors are appointed and qualified, and the term of the
successor of any incumbent shall be calculated from the expiration of the term
of that incumbent.� A vacancy occurring other than by expiration of term shall
be filled in the same manner as the original appointment but for the unexpired
term only.� Public members may serve for no more than two consecutive terms.

���� c.���� The members of the
commission shall serve without compensation but shall be entitled to
reimbursement for all necessary expenses incurred in the performance of their
duties.

���� d.��� The Secretary of State,
or a designee, shall serve as the chair and the members of the commission shall
elect annually one of the public members to serve as vice-chair.� The chair may
appoint a secretary, who need not be a member of the commission. The presence
of a majority of the full membership of the commission shall constitute a
quorum to conduct official business.

���� e.���� The commission shall
meet quarterly and at such other times as designated by the chair.

���� f.���� The commission may hire
an executive director and other personnel necessary to carry out its duties and
functions, but the commission may also engage the services of volunteer workers
and consultants without compensation as is necessary from time to time.

���� 2.��� a.� The State Commission
on Minority Affairs shall have the following duties and responsibilities:

���� study matters affecting the
social and economic welfare of minorities residing in the State;

���� collect and disseminate
information on activities, programs, and essential services available to
minorities in the State;

���� study the availability of
employment for minorities in this State, and the manner in which minorities are
employed;

���� study the ways in which
minorities can be encouraged to start and manage their own businesses
successfully;

���� study the availability of
affordable housing;

���� in cooperation with the
Division on Civil Rights, promote public information regarding State laws that
prohibit discriminatory practices and procedures pursuant to which aggrieved
persons may file complaints or otherwise take action to remedy such discriminatory
practices;

���� promote the creation of
networks within the business community between majority-owned and
minority-owned businesses;

���� advise the Governor on matters
relating to minorities and of concern to minorities; and

���� recommend legislation to the
Governor.

���� b.��� The commission is
authorized to call upon any department, office, division or agency of the
State, or of any county, municipality or school district of the State, to
supply data, reports and other information, personnel, and assistance as it
deems necessary to discharge its duties and responsibilities pursuant to this
section.

���� c.���� The commission shall
submit an annual report of its activities through the Department of State to
the Governor and, pursuant to section 2 of P.L.1991, c.164 (C.52:14-19.1), to
the Legislature on or before December 31 of each year.

���� 3.��� This act shall take
effect immediately.

STATEMENT

���� This bill would establish the
State Commission on Minority Affairs within the Department of State.

The commission would be responsible for:

���� studying matters affecting the
social and economic welfare of minorities residing in the State;

���� collecting and disseminating
information on activities, programs, and essential services available to
minorities in the State;

���� studying the availability of
employment for minorities in this State, and the manner in which minorities are
employed;

���� studying the ways in which
minorities can be encouraged to start and manage their own businesses
successfully;

���� studying the availability of
affordable housing;

���� in cooperation with the Division
on Civil Rights, promoting public information regarding State laws that
prohibit discriminatory practices and procedures pursuant to which aggrieved
persons may file complaints or otherwise take action to remedy such
discriminatory practices;

���� promoting the creation of
networks within the business community between majority-owned and
minority-owned businesses;

���� advising the Governor on
matters relating to minorities and of concern to minorities; and

���� recommending legislation to
the Governor.